Flax attachment for harvesting-machines.



. WW. m I N M a. H Em n m PATEN-TED MAY 26, 1903.

H. GREEN.

FLAX ATTACHMENT FOR.- HARVESTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

ZNESSBS W z@ UNTTTD STATES Patented May 26, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY GREEN, OF PEKIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ACME HARVESTER COMPANY, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FLAX ATTACHMENT FOR HARVESTING M ACHINES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 728,906, dated May 26, 1903.

Application filed Angust4,1902. Serial No. 118,807. (No model.)

. the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flax Attachments for Harvesting-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention pertains to a flax attachment for harvesting-machines and headers.

The object of the invention is to provide an attachment for harvesting-machines and headers which can be used to handle flax in such a manner as to carry the flax entirely away from the line of travel of the horses.

A further object is to provide an attachment which may be used in place of the ordinary binding apparatus when it is desired to handle flax.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction, which will be described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the elevator of a harvesting-machine or header, showing my device connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a clutch mechanism. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a casting for use in adjusting a supporting-leg of one of the carriers. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the supporting-leg above mentioned, showing its structure for connection with the portion shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1, A represents the elevator of the ordinary harvester, which arises at an angle from the platform of such machine, which, however, is not shown, and carries the usual canvas carriers B and O, which pass over the rollers D E and F G, respectively. The shaft F, which carries the roller F, carries also a.

sprocket-wheel F and also one F The shaft E, which carries the said roller E, has a sprocket-wheel E and the shaft for the roller G has a sprocket H, all as shown. A portion of the supporting-frame I beneath the elevator carries in suitable manner a shaft J, having two sprocket-wheels K L. A sprocketchain M runs upon all of the sprockets F E H, and K, and an idler Non the said portion I serves to support the chain and keep it tight. An extension 0, secured to the portion I, has at its outer end a further extension P, forming a bundle-carrier,which is suitably supported, so as to support the Weight imposed upon it. At the outer end of the extension 0 is a shaft Q, carrying a roller Q, and at the extreme end of the part P is a shaft R, having a roller It, and over the two rollers runs a canvas carrier S. A sprocketwheel T on the shaft Q is driven by means of a chain U from the sprocket L on shaft J. A brace V is secured at one end to the portion O and at the other to the elevator A, and near the upper end of the same is a bracket W, one leg of which is held by a bolt X, the other leg being adjustable by means of holes therein and the bolt Y, as will be hereinafter described. Said bracket W carries in suitable bearings a shaft 2, carrying a roller 3, over which runs a canvas 4 to a roller 5 at the end of a frame 6, carried by brackets 7, secured at the end adjacent the shaft 2. Said brackets are slotted and adapted to move beneath a nut on a bolt 8 on the bracket W, said frame 6 arranged to pivot on the shaft 2, as will be understood. A sprocket 9 on the shaft 2 is driven by means of a chain 10 from the sprocket F hereinbefore described. The outer end of the frame 6 is supported by means of a leg 11, which has a series of holes 12 in its lower extremity, one of which engages a pin 13 in the extension 0. The upper end of the said leg has a series of notches forming a serrated face, as shown in Fig. 4, engaging a similar face in a casting 14, secured to the frame 6, as shown in Fig. 1. A bolt 15 serves to permit adjustment of the parts, so that the said frame 6 may be adjusted for height, as desired.

Heretofore machines for harvesting flax have merely been harvesting-machines from which the binding attachment has beenre- 9; moved and more carriers of one form or another used to receive and deliver the bunches of flax from the cutting apparatus. These carriers were so arranged that instead of delivering the flax well out of the way dropped too it just where the horses tread, and by reason of being beneath the horses feet the seed is beaten out and much of it lost. It is my aim and desire, therefore, to stop this unnecessary waste and carry the material well away from the horses path, and I accomplish this purpose by the means shown and described or by any other construction that will ac-v complish the same end.

I do not, of course, make any claim upon some of the parts of the device in themselves, as they are old, but by the combined parts which gain the end sought.

In the use of my improved device I remove from the harvester and hinder or from the header having the binder attachment the usual binder-deck and use in place thereof the carrier-frame 6, which receives the flax from the elevator A and carries it to its outer end and drops it upon the carrier S beneath. Ordinarily the binder-deck occupies a position at the left of the elevator-frame A at an opposite angle to said framet'. (2., extends from the roller 3 down in the region of the roller Qso that in handling grain it is passed down said deck, being tied in a bundle as it descends, and then lands upon the carrier S or other receiver of like nature, which is controlled by the operatorthat is to say, when a sufficient amount of grain has accumulated on said receiver the operator drops it upon the ground. All of this is well known; but in ordinary practice the operator when changing his machine to handle flax removes the deck vand the carrier S and places one (a carrier) at about the position occupied by the frame 0 and places a guide from the roller ,3 down to said carrier. Now when he has received a load upon the latter member it is dropped to the ground exactly in the path of the oncoming horses. In my arrangement the operator when wishing to handle flax uses the carrier S the same as for use in grainhandling and erects the said carrier 6 after removing the binder and binder-deck, as before stated. For grain-binding the roller 3 vis used in nearly all machines, but is placed closer to the roller F and assists the grain in passing from'the elevator to the deck. I also employ this roller by mounting it upon the bracket W described, but carry it away from the roller F, so that the canvas 4 running thereon will not interfere with the canvas of the elevator, on both of which are carried the usual slats. By having the said roller 3 ad justable by means of the adjustable bracket it will be seen that the roller can now be used for both purposes instead of one, as hereto:

fore.

In Fig. 2 I showaclutch mechanism for the shaft Q. The said shaft has a bearing 15 in -an arm 16, secured to the frame portion 0, and to this is pivoted a shifting-lever 17. A

coned sleeve 18 on the shaft is adapted to en ter the hub of the sprocket-wheel T, said hub .having a correspondingly tapered recess therein. Said Wheel is loose on the shaft, and the sleeve is keyed to the shaft, but slides back and forth thereon, so that at the will of the operator the carrier S may be operated to deliver its load. In operation the carrier is normally at rest, and the flax falling from the carrier 4: is allowed to accumulate to the desired extent. Then by throwing the clutch into use the entire load is dropped to the ground far out of the reach of the horses feet. The carrier t is made adjustable for height, so that when there is no wind it may be placed quite high in order to allow as much flax to be loaded upon the stationary carrier S beneath it as possible, so that fewer bunches need be delivered upon the ground. If the wind is high, then the said carrier 4 may be lowered to any desired point near enough to the carrier S to allow the material to fall upon the latter without being blown about and disarranged, and in this case more bunches must be delivered by reason of the smaller amount of flax than can be received on said carrier S at one time.

I do not wish to confine myself to the particular means shown and described, as other devices will accomplish the same object.

I claim 1. In a flax attachment for harvesting-machines, the combination with the elevator of the harvester, of an endless carrier having one end adjacent to the top of the said elevator, the other end extending outward laterally from the line of travel of the machine and vertically'adjustable at its other end for the purposes set forth, an endless carrier below said other end and near the ground for receiving'the flax from said adjustable carrier above it and means for vertically adjusting said first carrier for the purposes described.

2. In a flax attachment for harvesting-machines the combination with the elevator of the harvester, of an endless grain-carrier having one end adjacent to the top of the said elevator, its other end extending sidewise from the line of movement of the machine such end capable of vertical adjustment, an endless carrier below the first carrier and near to the ground for receiving flax from the first carrier, means for vertically adjusting the latter for the purposes set forth and means under the control of the operator for imparting mo- .tion to the lower carrier to deliver the flax means for driving the said second carrier the said means being under the control of the operator for driving the said second carrier intermittently when desired for the purposes set forth.

4. In a flax attachment for harvesters, the combination with the elevator A of the harvester, a carrier-frame 6 pivoted at one end near the elevator, a canvas belt 4 carried therein, means for driving such belt from the elevator, a carrier-frame P supported from the machine, a leg 11 for adjusting the carrier 4 vertically, a canvas beltS carried on the frame P and means for driving said belt from the elevator mechanism all arranged substantially as set forth and described.

5. In a flax attachment for harvesting-machines the combination of the elevator A having the canvas carriers 13 and G, the sprockets l3 and F on the under roller at the top of said elevator, the endless carrier 4 having one end located adjacent to the top of the elevator, a support 11 for vertically adjusting the outer end of said carrier, said carrier being driven from the sprocket-Wheels of the elevator, the endless carrier S beneath the carrier 4 near the ground and supported from the machine, the shaft Q thereof, the loose sprocket T on said shaft for use in driving the said carrier, the sprocket-wheel L on the machine, the sprocket-chain U for the said wheels T and L for driving the said carrier S ets F and F on the under roller at the top of i said elevator, the endless carrier 4 having one end located adjacent to the top of the elevator, a support 11 for vertically adjusting the outer end of said carrier, said carrier being driven from the sprocket-wheels of the elevator, the endless carrier S beneath the carrier 4 near the ground and supported from the machine, the shaft Q thereof, the loose sprocket T on said shaft for use in driving the said carrier, the sprocket-wheel L on the machine, the sprocket-chain U for the said wheels T and L for driving the said carrier S, means for driving said wheel L and clutch mechanism for engaging the continuouslyrevolving wheel T to drive the said shaft Q in the manner described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY GREEN. Witnesses:

A. A. Asn, W. O. BARTLETT. 

